Friday Shakedown

I know it's Saturday, but I'm still calling it the Friday Shakedown...

We begin the cavalcade of crazy with Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX).  He loves his conspiracy theories so much and is a great example of what is wrong with this country.  Here is what he said this week about the Obama administration:

“He has advisers around him that do not have the same goal as he does. He has people around him giving advice who support the Muslim Brotherhood and who steer him in wrong directions,”

He really thinks the President has advisors who support radical Islam.  This isn't the first time he has said things to that effect.  Thank you, Texas, for sending this clown to Congress.  The rest of the country is so excited to have him help make decisions on their behalf.

Next, we have a story from the University of Arizona.  Anyone that has frequented a college camp in the past several years knows there are always very religious people holding signs, telling people they are going to hell, or otherwise trying to spread the "good" word.  I saw this a lot in my undergraduate days.

At the University of Arizona, there is a student, Dean Saxton, who regularly does this.  He has been nicknamed "Brother Dean" and seems to have become a fixture of the campus.  Here is a video of his demonstration on Tuesday where he held up a sign that said "You Deserve Rape."  The video is long but the introduction fills in some of the story.

University of Arizona spokeswoman Jennifer Fitzenberger released a statement to The Huffington Post on the controversial Brother Dean demonstration:

The University of Arizona does not endorse or condone the message of the campus speaker - in fact, it considers it to be vile and repugnant. However, because universities in particular are bastions for free speech, even when it is offensive, the University of Arizona will uphold the right of this speaker and all others to engage in constitutionally protected speech on its campus. Should the University receive complaints or otherwise become aware of allegations of misconduct that fall outside the realm of constitutionally protected speech, it will investigate and deal with them as appropriate.

In a way, he's like a live-action internet troll.

Rep. Steve King Is A Despicable Human Being

Last night, I read something that Iowa Congressman Steve King said and it made me mad as expected. Knowing that one of my friends lives in his district and actually likes King, I decided to post the following on Facebook: 

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) is a despicable human being 

Nothing more, simply a statement. And to my enjoyment, this friend responded. He said: 

Please tell me why you don't like Steve King? 

I couldn’t have asked for a better response. The following is what I sent him. Just a simple list of awfulness provided by Steve King.

Steve King: Hurricane Sandy Aid Must Have Strings Attached To Avoid Waste On 'Gucci Bags'

Steve King: Idea That Diversity Strengthens America Has 'Never Been Backed Up By Logic'

Rep. Steve King: Immigrants are like dogs.

Steve King: Comparing Immigrants To Dogs Was 'A Compliment'

Iowa rep will file lawsuit over immigration announcement

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) recently told a local Iowa radio station that al Qaeda would “be dancing in the middle of the streets” if Barack Obama were elected President “because of his middle name.”

King compared immigrants to “livestock” in proposing an electrified fence for the southern border. 

King said the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib amounted to little more than “hazing.” 

King praised Joe McCarthy as “a great American hero.” 

After Bush vetoed a bill that would have expanded children’s health insurance, King declared it a “victory” for kids. 

The Des Moines Register wrote in 2005: “Spare us more embarrassment: Replace King.”

Steve King Attacks Sasha And Malia Obama

Rep. Steve King Defends Dogfighting Enthusiasts From State Governments

Steve King: Gays Wouldn't Face Discrimination If They Didn't 'Wear Their Sexuality On Their Sleeve'

King happily explained his history of working against the equal rights agenda and the "screaming, profane gays." 

King renewed his campaign against gay marriage in late 2010, saying that children raised by same-sex married couples would be similar to those "raised in warehouses."

He has yet to respond. 

Christian Group Fears Jim Crow Laws Against Christians

1/2/13

This is a story that can only make you say “quoi?” the American Family Association sent out an email to their members with the intent to instill fear in them. The title of the email was “What will religion look like in the year 2060?”  They claim that within fifty years, Christians will be persecuted like African Americans were in the 1960’s. 

Some of their claims according to the email:

Conservative Christians will be treated as second class citizens, much like African Americans were prior to civil rights legislation in the 1960s.

Family as we know it will be drastically changed with the state taking charge of the children beginning at birth.

Cities with a name from the Bible such as St. Petersburg, Bethlehem, etc. will be forced to change their name due to separation of church and state.

I highly doubt that a large majority population of any country, especially the United States, will ever see the kind of persecution that has historically befallen minorities in this country.

This list is ridiculous. The third example simply tells me that the group does not understand what the separation of church and state means.  I have no problem with a place called Saint Louis retaining its name.  There is hardly a religious tone too it.  Saint in the name doesn’t mean it is a religious city anymore than Island in Grand Island, NE means that the city is on an island.

The list also says that we will have, or have had, a Muslim president.  I understand that the group is playing to the irrational fears of their members.  Having a Muslim president is not a bad thing like they imply.  Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota is Muslim and does a fantastic job representing his district in Congress.  Perhaps he could be that Muslim president eventually. 

It is important to stay vigilant with groups like this about.  These people vote and elections have consequences.